A few simple time-management skills can go a long way toward adjusting to college life with ADHD. Follow these steps for greater academic and social success.

Related

Going to college is a big adjustment for anyone, but students with ADHD may need to be prepared to buckle down even more. ADHD affects learning and function — not intelligence. You just need to approach learning, studying, and organizing in a different way.

"Scientific knowledge regarding brain function indicates that individuals trade IQ points for function if they have ADHD," says Floyd Sallee, MD, PhD, professor of child psychiatry at the University of Cincinnati. "It affects work performance and time management."

Time management is very important in college, and a tough skill for any student to learn. It can be even tougher for a student with ADHD to really organize and manage their workload.

Adult ADHD: Signs You're Struggling

Some students may never know they have ADHD until they get to college; it's not uncommon for signs to surface late in a student's education.

"One of the biggest issues with ADHD is poor functioning of the frontal lobes, which helps us plan, organize, and structure our activities," says Richard Milich, PhD, professor at the University of Kentucky.

Other ADHD symptoms:

Substance use. People struggling with ADHD tend to make poor choices when it comes to alcohol and drugs, says Dr. Sallee, and may not know when to say when. Drinking too often and too much can be signs that you're struggling with ADHD.

Difficulty working in a group. Group projects are common assignments, and everyone has to participate. People with unmanaged ADHD symptoms may not contribute to the work, be late to meetings, and function ineffectively, says Sallee.

Inability to make friends. ADHD can definitely affect social interactions and friendships, says Sallee. People struggling with ADHD may have difficulty making new friends and maintaining friendships.

Suffering in school. If you find yourself unable to concentrate, take poor or scattered notes, feel disorganized, or have problems reading, your ADHD symptoms may need better control.

When students start noticing symptoms, Sallee suggests heading to the student health center for an ADHD evaluation. Once diagnosed with ADHD, it’s important to establish a relationship with an on-campus mental health professional who can teach you coping and life-management strategies and prescribe medication to help you achieve in higher education, says Sallee.

Adult ADHD: Figuring It All Out

"College was kind of a shock," admits Shawn Slawson, 20, of Orlando, Fla. "I had so much structure in high school and a support team behind me. In college, you're on your own. You have to find the support structure that you need to function and you have to find what works for you."

Slawson, who was diagnosed with ADHD at age 4, says it took roughly a year to get used to the new environment and setting your own schedule. "I had to set goals for every single assignment I did, even if it was just a paper," says Slawson. After he met each goal, he gave himself a small reward for completing it. This goal and reward system, along with taking frequent breaks, helped him study better and stay focused.

Adult ADHD: Tips to Help You Manage

Your first step in managing ADHD in college is to acknowledge that it’s going to be a different and more challenging experience than high school. Then, follow these strategies to help you succeed.

Look for a school with good ADHD resources, and take advantage of them.

Alert counselors, administrators, and professors that you have ADHD and that you may need some classroom accommodations, including class notes and more time for tests.

Sit at the front of the classroom and record lectures.

Create a daily schedule with all of your classes, study times, and other responsibilities.

Learn time-management skills. Meet with a counselor or take a class.

You don't have to be afraid of or intimidated by college. Instead, embrace the challenge — just be prepared for it.

This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.

Advertising Notice

This Site and third parties who place advertisements on this Site may collect and use information about
your visits to this Site and other websites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services of
interest to you. If you would like to obtain more information about these advertising practices and to make
choices about online behavioral advertising, please click here.